A Quality Rating and Improvement System is a system of quality improvements, assessments, incentives, and education that improve the quality of child care. Quality Rating and Improvement Systems are voluntary. Licensed and regulated child care providers participate in a process that evaluates the child care (setting), based on early childhood standards of quality child care, and then the (setting/program) receives a rating. The QRIS uses supports and incentives to providers to reach, maintain, and achieve the highest level of quality.

The Early Childhood Investment Corporation is supporting some local Great Start Collaborative communities to develop and implement local Quality Rating and Improvement System Pilots. The pilot implementations will extend over three years. The Early Childhood Investment Corporation will utilize the lessons learned and the knowledge gained from the pilots to support the development of a statewide, voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System, as resources permit.

Meetings:

• January 10, 2008 Meeting Resources
  • Quality Fund Graphic - matching local dollars slides referenced by Gerrit Westervelt
  • Child Staff Ratios (DRAFT) in reference to interrater reliability
  • Notes from the January 10, 2008 Meeting
  • Gerrit's Powerpoint presentation
  • BUILD Executive Summary - Evaluating Systems Initiatives
    
    
• February 27, 2008 Meeting Resources
  • Meeting Notes
  • Pennsylvania Keystone Stars
    • Keystone Stars Homepage: http://www.pakeys.org/stars/Default.aspx#add
    • Keystone Stars Standards: http://www.pakeys.org/docs/STARS%20Standards.pdf
    • Documents (from here you can click on a variety of forms Keystone Stars uses for grants, to compliance certification) http://www.pakeys.org/docs.aspx
    • Resources (for providers): http://www.pakeys.org/stars/STARSResources.aspx
  • Colorado Qualistar
    Rating Components: http://www.qualistar.org/professionals/components.php
  • Family, Friend and Neighbor Providers:
    • Minnesota Ready 4K Initiative
    • NCCIC � State and Local Strategies
    • Sparking Connections
    • The Institute for Child Care Continuum at Bank Street College ( research, publications, and resources)
  
  
• SAVE THE DATE! - THE NEXT CHILD CARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT MEETING IS APRIL 16, 2008
  • The meeting will be at the ECIC offices from 9:00 � 3:00, lunch will be provided
  • Each interested Great Start Collaborative may send one person to this meeting
  • The agenda will focus on a discussion of Michigan QRIS Recommendations � have you highlighted yours yet?
  • The objective of the meeting is to come to agreement on the rating system criteria for each level
  • Gerrit Westervelt from the Build Initiative will be here to facilitate that discussion
  • Outreach to Family, Friend, and Neighbor care providers for quality improvements is also on the agenda
  • Please RSVP to Karen Roback

Documents & Resources:

• Michigan Quality Rating and Improvement System
  • Michigan Quality Rating and Improvement System Recommendations
  • Michigan Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten
  • Michigan Early Childhood Standards for Infant and Toddler Programs
  
  
  
• Classroom Environment Assessments
  • High/Scope Program Quality Assessment
  • Environment Rating Scale
  • Classroom Assessment Scoring System
  
  
  
• Resources
  • National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC)
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children - Accreditation Information
  
  
  
• Other States Quality Rating and Improvement Systems
  • Colorado Quality Rating System - Qualistar
  • Pennsylvania Quality Rating System - Keystone Stars
  
  
  
• Family Friend and Neighbor Care
  • Minnesota Family Friend and Neighbor Care
  • Washington State Family Friend and Neighbor Care
    
    
• Florida
  • Florida's Quality Rating System Cost Analysis
  • Florida's Quality Rating System
  
  
  
• Finances and Funding
  • Comparison of Financial Incentives in States Quality Improvement and Rating Systems December 2006 by Anne Mitchell
  • Financing Quality Rating Systems: Lessons Learned September 2004 by Louise Stoney